Electrolytic device



Aug. 13, 1935. R. c. SPRAGUE El AL 2,011,461

ELECTROLYTIC DEVICE Original Filed April 22, 1932 7 26 ;||m||mmu ;/56 I x lo .CJSPRAGUE R J. F. M CA N N )NVENTORS BY Aim ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 13, 1935 Robert C. Williams Spragne' and John F. McCann, town, Mesa, assignors to Sprague Specialties Company, North Adams, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Original application April 22, 1932, Serial No. 606,943, new Patent No. 1,997,185, dated April 9, 1985. Divided and this application May 8, 1934, Serial No. 724,591. In Canada September 19, 1932 3 Claims. (Cl. 175-315) Our invention relates to electrolytic devices and more particularly to improvements in the construction of electrolytic condensers.

'lhepresentapplicationisadivisionofourapplication Ser. No. 006,943, illed April 22, 1932, now Patent No, 1,997,185, granted April 9, i935, and relates to a novel electrode construction described in said prior application.

the object of our invention is to provide a omdenser in which the component parts are oi simple and inexpensive mechanical construction, andareadaptedtobeeasilyandqmcklyssrambled.

Another object of our invention is to provide a novelforlnofconstruetionfortheanodeofsuch condensers, which shallbe of simple form and easytoassemble,andwhichpermitstheuseof verythinmaterialfortheeilectiveanodesurface.

Intbeappendeddrawingz' l'igureiisaverticalsectionalviewofacondenserourinvention.

l'isme isan ar dperspectivevieworan anodeaceordingtotheinvention.

HgShaperspectiveviewofoneendofthe condenser AsshowninligureLthecondenser acyiindrleal metallic container ",whichpreferablycomtitutesthecathodeofthecondenser andisprovidedatoneendwithareducedneck ortulmlarextensimll. Asealprovidedinsuch marextensionconsistsofaplugflofmbber opposite each other as a |s-|s (m. a), whereular to its axis, and which is spun together with the cap. After the cap 20 and container I I are thus secured to each other, their combined edges are spun downwards over the outside of the container, thereby forming a liquid and gas tight seal as at 23.

The container is almost completely filled with a suitable liquid electrolyte 21.

The diameter of the container is preferably slightly reduced near its top edge at 24 and a plurality of minute holes 25 are conveniently located about the circumference of the portion 2. These holes are covered by a band 2. of rubber or other rsilient material, this arrangement providing for an escape for any gas which may accumulate within the container during operation of the condenser. However the band 26 eflectually prevents any escape of the electrolyte or the access of oontaminations from the outside.

The anode assembly I (Fig. 2), which is supported in the plug by means of its extension ll, comprises a frame l'l havingan inverted U shape. The anode proper consists of aluminum fdl ll of relatively small thickness which is folded back and forth pon itself in the manner of accordion pleating. and riveted or otherwise secured to the legs of the U shaped member at l9-l9. By this method of folding of the anode a considerable length of foil may be compactly placed in a small space, thus providing an anode of large capacity. At the same time a relatively thin aluminum foil of the order of thickness of only 2 to' 3 thousandths of an inch, can be used as its eilicient support and stiifening by the frame ll makesit untoimpartsuchrigiditytothealuminum foil as to make it self-supporting.

To properly center the anode ly there is provided on the upper end of the frame II a properiy perforated insulating washer 28 of mica or other suitable material which contacts with its edges with the container wall and thereby maintaim the anode assembly in proper spaced relation to the latter. Instead of using for the spacing of the anode assembly a washer 2| as above described, the anode assembly may be encircled by suitable insulating bands 29-29, for instance, of rubber.

Should it be found desirable to impart a greater degree of rigidity to the anode ll than is aiforded by the bands 29-29, a punched strip ll of thin hard rubber or celluloid adapted to slip over theanode llisused. Thestrip ilisprovided with two lugs H. which lay along the edges of the frame I1, and a slot 1 which permits the striptobeplacedovertheanodeit.

The strip 58 is flexed to enter the container III, whereby the sides of the slot 51- support the foil I! and keep its edges in alignment.

It should be noted that the extension I! is I preferably an integral portion of the frame I1,

thereby affording a very simple construction. Outside terminals can be easily attached to the extension ii. For instance, the extension may be provided with a hole lia through which a wire may be conveniently threaded or a metal connectin'g strip may be riveted, or the extension itself may form a threaded. terminal to be provided with a nut.

In addition to 'the anode proper It being of aluminum or other film-forming metal, the frame l1 and its integral extension I5 is also of such metal. The container Ill may be of filming or non-filming metal.

It should also be noted that the amount of electrolyte and the dispositon of the anode is so selected that the whole effective anode is submerged in the electrolyte in both horizontal and vertical positions of the condenser, thereby the anode assembly is preferably so disposed that its lower and upper edges are respectively equi-distantly disposed from both the bottom and the top of the container, and that suilicient space is left between the side edges of the assembly and the wall of the container.

The condenser of our construction is adapted to be mounted both vertically and horizontally, or in any intermediate position.

It should be noted that even in horizontal position some of the holes 25 (namely, those which are uppermost and thus uncovered by the electrolyte) willpermit-escape of the gases.

Novel features of the present invention disclosed in this application, but not pertaining to the anode construction per'se, are claimed in ,the original application Ser. No. 606,943, filed April 22, 1932,. now Patent #1,997,185, and other divisional applications thereof, namely Ser. No. 724,593 and Ser. No. 724,594, both filed on May 8, 1934.

While we have described our invention on hand of specific construction and illustrated an electrolytic condenser having a liquid electrolyte, it should be well understood that our invention is applicable in full or in part to other electrolytic condensers, as well as other electrolytic devices in general, and therefore the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An anode assembly for an electrolytic condenser, comprising an aluminum foil crimped to form an accordion-like pleating, and a support for said pleating, said support being connected to said pleating solely along portions of the pleating which extend parallel to the directicn of the folds of the foil.

2. An anode assembly for an electrolytic condenser, comprising an aluminum foil crimped to form an accordion-like pleating, said pleating being nonconflned and free to expand at its two ends, and a supporting member secured to said pleating in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the folds of the pleating, and forming an electrical connecting means for said foil.

3. An electrolytic condenser comprising a cylindrical container, a liquid electrolyte therein, a film-forming electrode structure consisting of an accordion-like pleating, the folds of said pleating extending in a direction parallel to the axis of said container, said pleating being free at its two ends, and a supporting rod-like member connected to said pleating along a strip parallel to the axisof the container, said member serving as electrical connecting means for said electrode.

R. C. SPRAGUE. J. F. McCANN. 

